of late i have been noticing people clinging to facebook(FB). And when you ask them the reason they are quick to respond that its better than orkut.
However there has not been one single instance when i felt that facebook was making it easier for me interact with my friends. Now its a personal take and people might differ but heres what i have to say >>
* first of all i find facebook very difficult. Its like understanding something new for no good.
for example : lets say i log into the FB site. The first thing i find is the whole package of unnecessary information (rather data) all over my screen [ like; 'ABC gifted a teddy to XYZ' , ' PQRS is happy today' , " MNO just found out his friend for the day' , ' wxy commented on EFG's photograph',] . Now this data, is all useless to me. Why would i like to know how is ABC treating XYZ; if he is gifting a teddy or a fresh cabbage to him is of no concern to me.. and even if i would be interested to know it, i will definitely call my friend or he/she will call me. I don't want to know how is everyone gifting and treating each other with the help of virtual bouquets/hugs/smiles and rest all items in the FB kitty.
* Secondly, I think FB is very confusing too. If i wish to write anything to my friend, i have an option of a WALL. A wall which is too big to keep anything personal or even little unreachable. I mean, i don't mind people reading my messages to my friends. But please do not paint them on a stupid wall which is intentionally made very public. I guess orkut does a very handsome job here. People who are free enough to read messages scribbled on some one's page can do it only if the take pains to get inside others profile and read the messages which were not meant for them. In fact to ensure that you have a privacy, you can easily set the privacy option and disable any user to read the scraps not meant for them. So here's a very customized option available with orkut.
* thirdly , I am prejudiced towards orkut because it is owned by Google, of which i am a fan. Simply because Google is awesome and a smart way to do things.
While concluding , i can only say that FB might be the talk of the town, but eventually its the robust and simpler things which win. Yes! the variably sized display picture which you can put on the FB home page is one of the things people admire( in orkut there is only standard size which is possible) and FB scores over Orkut when it comes to the texture and over all lookout; but the sheer simplicity and clarity in Orkut is overwhelming.
One of the prime advantage Orkut has is the fact that Indians got addicted to Orkut well before the advent of FB. And that everything in Orkut seems to be more simple and clear.
Whatever the reason is, i am a fan of Orkut.
I am not sure if , by now , FB must have published it on my FB wall ' shwetank sharma has become a fan of Orkut'
[:)]
